BOSTON -- It's like a small-time crook robbing the neighborhood convenience store one day, getting away with it, and returning the next week to rob the same joint again.

New York Yankees starter Michael Pineda may be naive, brazen or just foolish, but he got caught red-handed cheating Wednesday night on national TV, admitting that he used pine tar, in clear violation of major league rules.

Pineda was ejected after pitching just 1 2/3 innings in their 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, and Yankees GM Brian Cashman anticipates a suspension. He was suspended 10 games by MLB on Thursday.

"I think we are all embarrassed,'' Cashman said. "This is a terrible situation. We all took ownership to it. Obviously, there is clearly a failure and a breakdown for him walking out of that dugout with something like that.

Pineda, 2-2, 1.83 ERA, attracted the Red Sox's attention in his April 10 start against them when he appeared to use pine tar on his hand. Yet, he was never questioned by the Red Sox, or the umpiring crew. He covered up afterwards, claiming it was only dirt.

Major League Baseball didn't have the right to discipline Pineda at the time, but Joe Torre, MLB executive vice president of baseball operations, spoke to Cashman about the incident. And Cashman and the Yankees spoke to Pineda, warning him not to use pine tar.

The message appeared to last all of one inning.

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Pineda, who gave up two runs in the first inning, said he had trouble gripping the ball, and put the pine tar on the side of his neck before the second inning.

Well, guess whose TV cameras zeroed in all over Pineda's body when they noticed a suspicious substance on his neck, shown repeatedly on NESN-TV, the station owned by the Red Sox. Red Sox manager John Farrell was informed by his clubhouse.

Farrell, who said Wednesday afternoon that Pineda couldn't be blatant with his use of pine tar, said he had no choice this time. He asked home-plate umpire Gerry Davisto check Pineda.

He examined Pineda's glove and hand. The ball. Clean.

He then took a look at Pineda's neck, and noticed a bright, brown shiny spot on the right side.

Davis wiped his right index finger on the neck, rubbed his fingers together, and felt the stickiness.

"Pine tar,'' Davis said.

And, in a calm demeanor, ejected Pineda, who walked off the field to a chorus of sarcastic cheers from the sellout crowd of 37,015 at Fenway Park.

"It was cold, I couldn't feel the ball in the first inning, I didn't want to hit nobody,'' Pineda said. "I apologize to my teammates, and to everybody. I'll learn from this mistake. It won't happen again.''

July 22: Relief pitcher Dominic Leone #54 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts to home plate umpire Vic Carapazza after being ejected in the seventh inning of the MLB game against the Miami Marlins at Chase Field on July 22, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 538587105 ORIG FILE ID: 481621298 Christian Petersen, Getty Images

July 21: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly argues a call with home plate umpire James Hoye in the eighth inning of their game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports

July 17: New York Mets manager Terry Collins, right, argues after being ejected by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild, left, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Jeff Roberson, AP

July 7: Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness is thrown out of the game after arguing a call during the seventh inning of the game two baseball doubleheader against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Caylor Arnold, USA TODAY Sports

June 2: Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon (23) kicks dirt after being ejected during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Safeco Field. Third base umpire Tony Randazzo (11) stands at right. Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports

May 29: Umpire Mike Winters tossed Dodgers manager Don Mattingly for arguing a called third strike in the top of the seventh inning against the Cardinals. Winters then ejected Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis in the bottom half of the inning. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

May 10: Rays manager Kevin Cash and hitting coach Derek Shelton are ejected in the fifth just seconds after Joey Butler struck out swinging for the second out of the inning. Both took exception to home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook's strike zone. Jonathan Dyer, USA TODAY Sports

April 23: Royals' Yordano Ventura snags a grounder from White Sox's Adam Eaton and the pair exchange words before Ventura threw to first to end the 7th inning. After the play, players from both dugouts and bullpens run onto the field. Ventura is one of five who gets ejected after a fight breaks out. Jon Durr, Getty Images

April 19: In all, five coaches and players are ejected during the Royals-A's game. In the eight inning, acting Royals manager Don Wakamatsu is ejected from the game by crew chief Jim Joyce after pitcher Kelvin Herrera is thrown out of the game. Yunel Escobar, who had been sitting on the bench, also gets tossed. Peter Aiken, USA TODAY Sports

April 19: Royals reliever Kelvin Herrerra is tossed for throwing behind Brett Lawrie. "I don't mean to hurt anybody," Herrera said. "I was just trying to throw inside, but just a bad grip on that fastball. It started raining pretty good. And they just tossed me out of the game." Peter Aiken, USA TODAY Sports

April 19: Royals manager Ned Yost is ejected in the first inning after Lorenzo Cain was hit by a Scott Kazmir pitch and both teams were issued a warning by plate umpire Greg Gibson. Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland is also ejected. Orlin Wagner, AP